Melbourne Theatre Company to Open THE WAITING ROOM, May 21

A true Australian story that grapples with the nature of conception, the science of creation and humanity's drive to leave its own imprint, The Waiting Room by Kylie Trounson celebrates the development of IVF in Melbourne from a uniquely personal perspective. First performed to a rapturous response as part of Melbourne Theatre Company's 2014 Cybec Electric play readings, and now receiving its world premiere on the mainstage, The Waiting Room opens at 8pm, Thursday 21 May at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio.

Kylie Trounson was a child when her father Alan made breakthrough after breakthrough in fertility research. It was 1970s Melbourne and society was divided: was he a hero? Or a mad scientist playing God? The controversy swirled so close to her, yet she was far too young to understand how much was at stake. But now she can see it plain: that when we speak about conception we speak of the most profound things, of family and faith, our lives and our mortality, and our uncertain place in nature.

Created in collaboration with director Naomi Edwards, The Waiting Room stars award-winning actor Greg Stone as Australian pioneer of IVF, Emeritus Professor Alan Trounson, Sophie Ross as Kylie and Belinda McClory as a woman going through IVF, both in the 1970s and today. Kate Atkinson, Brett Cousins and William McInnes complete the cast of this multi-layered play.

Playwright Kylie Trounson said, 'The Waiting Room is about legacy -- what we strive to leave behind in the face of mortality, be it our own biological child, a scientific breakthrough, a work of art, or an understanding of God. I started writing a play about the development of IVF, which then became a play about my family, and then about other families, parenthood, relationships, sacrifice and how we fit in the lifecycle of the universe.'

Kylie Trounson's works include The Hyacinth Project (La Mama), Uninvited Guests, Hotel, Eavesdropping (St Martins Youth Arts Centre), The Man with the September Face (Arts Centre Melbourne), The Lost Story of the Magdalene Asylum (Peepshow Inc), Divine (Peepshow Inc) and Love Letters (St Martins, Arts Centre Melbourne). Kylie was writer-in-residence for Red Stitch Actors Theatre in 2010-11 where she wrote Merman, which was shortlisted for the 2011 Patrick White Playwright's Award.

Director Naomi Edwards makes her MTC mainstage debut with this production. Recently appointed as Artistic Director of Patch Theatre in South Australia, she has directed for MTC's Lawler Studio, Sydney Theatre Company, Opera Australia, Arena Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, La Mama, Milkcrate Theatre, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, RADA, VCA, Victorian Opera, Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne and many more. Her directing work spans children's theatre and community theatre. Her production of Cautionary Tales for Children for Arena Theatre Company received a Helpmann nomination for Best Presentation for Children in 2013. In 2012 she received the Gloria Dawn/Gloria Payten and Mike Walsh Scholarships. Edwards was selected to take part in MTC's inaugural Women Directors' Program in 2014.

Also on the creative team are set designer Dayna Morrissey, costume designer Chloe Greaves, lighting designer Richard Vabre, sound designer Russell Goldsmith and AV designer Michael Carmody.

The show runs at the Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio, Friday 15 May - Saturday 27 June 2015. Opening night: 8pm Thursday 21 May 2015. Tickets from $73, Under 30s from $36. Bookings: Southbank Theatre Box Office - 03 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au; Arts Centre Melbourne 1300 182 183 or artscentremelbourne.com.au.

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